The Rockies are going to have a lot of new faces in the bullpen in 2012 and they need some of them to step up. The Rockies better hope that Rafael Betancourt can handle closing because the alternatives are not too pretty. Here is a look at the Rockies’ bullpen as of right now as it pertains to 2012:

Closer: Rafael Betancourt: 36-year old righty Rafael Betancourt will be replacing Huston Street (traded to the Padres) as the Rockies’ closer in 2012. He pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 2-0 with 8 saves, a 2.89 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He has now pitched in 172 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Rockies and he was 10-2 with 10 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Betancourt has now pitched in 543 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 33-24 with 27 saves, a 3.18 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Betancourt has been an outstanding set-up man, but he didn’t last long as the Indians’ closer when given the chance. Hopefully he can handle closing this time around.

Set-Up Man: Matt Belisle: 31-year old righty Matt Belisle is going to graduate to be the Rockies’ set-up man in 2012. Belisle pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 10-4 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 174 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Rockies and he is 20-10 with 1 save, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 306 games (43 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 36-32 with 2 saves, a 4.48 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Belisle can handle the role as the set-up man in 2012.

Righties: Edgmer Escalona: 25-year old Edgmer Escalona pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.75 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. He also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 3.18 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Escalona has now pitched in 17 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Escalona can handle a full workload while pitching well for them in 2012.

Zach Putnam: 24-year old Zach Putnam came to the Rockies in a deal with the Indians over the winter. He pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in his first taste of the majors. Putnam also pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Indians last year and he was 6-3 with 9 saves, a 3.65 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The Rockies expect Putnam to make the bullpen this spring.

Josh Roenicke: 29-year old Josh Roenicke pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 64 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Roenicke can pitched like he did last year for them in 2012.

Mike Ekstrom: 28-year old Mike Ekstrom pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 46 games (1 start) inn AAA-ball last year and he was 6-4 with 5 saves, a 4.35 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Ekstrom has now pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 0-3 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Ekstrom will have a decent shot of opening the 2012 season in the Rockies’ bullpen if he has a good spring.

Esmil Rogers: 26-year old Esmil Rogers will try to make it in the bullpen this spring. He pitched in 18 games (13 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 6-6 with a 7.05 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP. Rogers has now pitched in 47 games (22 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 8-9 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He is a longshot to make the Rockies’ pen in 2012.

Lefties: 27-year old Matt Reynolds regressed a little bit in 2011. He pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Reynolds has now pitched in 94 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rockies and he is 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Reynolds pitches a little better in 2012 than he did last year.

Rex Brothers: 24-year old Rex Brothers looked really solid for the Rockies in his first taste of the majors in 2011. Brothers pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He only gave up 33 hits while whiffing 59 batters in 40 2/3 innings for the Rockies last year, which is outstanding. His only flaw was with his control as he walked 20 batters last year. If Brothers tightens up his control a bit, look out!

Josh Outman: 27-year old Josh Outman will pitch out of the bullpen in 2012 if he loses out on a rotation spot. He pitched in 13 games (9 starts) for the A’s last year and he was 3-5 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Outman has now pitched in 33 games (25 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Outman is going to be an asset for the Rockies in 2012 no matter what his role is going to be on the pitching staff.